Private - Discover Serbia

Day 1: Arrival to Belgrade

If you are arriving in Belgrade a few days prior to the tour departure, you can book additional nights with us, at the same hotel, for a surcharge of €55 (Standard package) or €95 (Superior package). Prices are per person, per night, in a double room. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Upon arrival in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, you will be welcomed by your driver and escorted to your hotel. On the short coach ride from the Nikola Tesla airport, sit back, relax and enjoy the sights of New Belgrade with its prominent ‘blocks’ – a classic example of Socialist architecture, built after World War II – and modern business centres, including the imposing Ušće Tower. Along the way, your driver will show you and tell some stories about the Western Gate of Belgrade, the famous Belgrade Arena and the monumental Palace of Serbia. Check-in at your hotel. Use your free time to rest and prepare for the trip. At 7pm in the hotel reception, you will be greeted by your guide who will introduce himself and provide you with detailed information about the entire trip. For the rest of the evening, we recommend you take a short, leisurely walk through one of the oldest quarters towards the bohemian heart of Belgrade – Skadarlija. In a charming 19th century cobbled street you will find numerous ‘kafanas’ where you can try delicious local specialties while listening to traditional music. Overnight.

Day 2: Belgrade Great Sightseeing Tour

After breakfast, you will embark on a tour (driving and walking) around Belgrade, a capital city well known for its various architectural styles, dynamic history and fantastic views of one of the biggest river confluences in the whole of Europe. Start the tour visiting the Museum of Yugoslav History, a memorial complex devoted to the life and deeds of Josip Broz Tito, the political leader of Yugoslavia. Next, you will pass by the stadium of FC Red Star – the former European and World Cup champions, and proceed to the Temple of Saint Sava, Belgrade’s patron saint. Very much a symbol of the city, this impressive building can be seen from any part of the capital. After a short break at the Temple’s plateau, the panoramic tour will then take you from Slavija Square, to Saint Mark’s Church, the Serbian National Parliament and White Palace, and on to Republic Square. This most central point of Belgrade is surrounded by such cultural institutions as the National Theatre and National Museum. The tour will then head along the lively Knez Mihailo Street, the main pedestrian and shopping zone, before stopping for a visit to the Orthodox Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, which is located just across from the Building of Patriarchate. Your guide will tell you about the tavern around the corner, the oldest in the city and intriguingly known as “?” (Question Mark), before continuing on to Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, the most important cultural-historic complex of the city, situated on the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube.

Day 3: Vojvodina Heritage Tour: Fruška Gora – Sremski Karlovci – Novi Sad (Optional excursion) 

Breakfast. Choice between a free day in Belgrade or a trip to Novi Sad, Petrovaradin and Sremski Karlovci (optional excursion). On this tour, you will explore the most interesting sights of Vojvodina, a province in the north of Serbia. You will be driven through picturesque scenery and Serbia’s famous wine region towards the ‘Serbian Holy Land’, home to 17 functioning Serbian Orthodox monasteries. You will visit well preserved monastery Krušedol, where you’ll have the opportunity to buy wine and rakija made by the monks. The tour continues on to town of Sremski Karlovci. A real gem of Serbian culture and spirituality, Sremski Karlovci feels like a ‘museum town’ with its Baroque centre, the Patriarchal Court, the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and the first Serbian secondary school (gymnasium). It is also famous for wine production and the town’s annual Wineball festival. You will finish your tour of this charming town with a visit and wine tasting at one the region’s most prominent wineries. Further on the tour, you will visit the 2021 European Capital of Culture, Novi Sad. Located on the historical border of two former empires – the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman – as a result, the capital of Vojvodina is a multi-cultural city with an interesting mix of architectural influences. On a sightseeing tour around the city, you will walk around the city’s pedestrian zone, past the City Hall, a Catholic church, the old city centre, the former house of Albert Einstein’s wife Mileva, the cultural foundation Matica Srpska and a synagogue. Then you’ll follow the right bank of Danube and visit Petrovaradin, or the so-called ‘Danube’s Gibraltar’, where the fortress is located. Drive back to Belgrade. Overnight.

Day 4: Resava Treasury Tour: Manasija Monastery – Resava Cave – Lisina Waterfalls (Optional Excursion) 

Breakfast. Choice between a free day in Belgrade or a trip to Resava Treasury tour – to visit the Manasija Monastery, Resava Cave and Lisina waterfalls (optional excursion). Departure from Belgrade in the morning hours, driving towards the first sights of the tour. The Manasija Monastery (Resava) with its Church of the Holy Trinity is located in central Serbia along the right bank of the Resava River. Like a military fortification with towers, large walls and trenches, Manasija was built during the rule of Despot Stefan Lazarević in the early 15th century. The Turks conquered the monastery in the 15th century and the Austrians in the 18th, so by the 19th century the monastery had been restored twice. The Manasija floor mosaics and wall frescoes, along with various architectural styles of objects of Manasija represent a real rarity of Serbian medieval architecture and old Serbian paintings. There are also the preserved ruins of the refectory and library – home to the Resava School of Transcription. The tour then heads to Resava Cave, which was discovered long ago and is still one of the most interesting caves in Serbia. The cave and the surrounding 11 hectares of land are considered a natural monument and thus protected by the state. Lunch will be served at a restaurant near the Lisina waterfalls, another of Serbia’s spectacular natural monuments. Return to Belgrade. Overnight.

Day 5: Belgrade – Mokra Gora Mountain – Sargan 8 – Wooden-town – Zlatibor Mountain 

Breakfast and check-out. Morning departure from Belgrade, heading west towards the picturesque Ovčar-Kablar Gorge, through which the West Morava River meanders. The tour will continue on to Tara National Park, and you will have time to reflect on its beauty from aboard the authentic, retro ‘Nostalgia’ train which runs along the narrow-gauge heritage railway, Šargan Eight. Travelling from the bottom of Šargan mountain on a route shaped like the number eight (hence the name), you will be transported back in time while enjoying the stunning mountain scenery and numerous tunnels and viaducts. At the beginning of the 20th century, the railway used to be a part of the railway from Belgrade to Sarajevo. After enjoying the breathtaking nature, you will arrive at the ethno village Drvengrad (Wooden Town), built by prominent movie director Emir Kusturica. The village, which includes the Mećavnik Hotel, houses, galleries, shops, a cinema and a church, is made of natural materials, mostly wood. Since 2008, the village plays host to the annual Küstendorf Film and Music Festival and Drvengrad has been visited by the likes of Johnny Depp, Monica Belucci, Jim Jarmusch and many others. After exploring Drvengrad, there will be a short drive to the famous Zlatibor Mountain, home of the first royal resort in Serbia. Here you can enjoy a relaxing walk around the quaint town centre of this picturesque air spa. In the evening, an enjoyable dinner of traditional Serbian food typical of the region will be served in the hotel. Overnight.

Day 6: Zlatibor Mountain – Uvac Special Nature Reserve – Ethno Village Sirogojno – Belgrade

Breakfast and check-out. Departure from Zlatibor in the morning, transfer to Uvac Special Natural Reserve, located between the mountains Javor and Zlatar. The main attraction of the reserve is its population of griffon vultures. The griffon vulture is a relatively rare species of bird of prey whose population in Uvac is the biggest in Europe. The bird’s wing span is about 3 m and they can weigh up to 11 kg, making it the biggest bird in Serbia. However, the griffon vulture is not the only attraction of the reserve; for centuries, the Uvac River has been making its way through the mountains, leaving deep meanders and creating caves that annually attract lots of tourists. The tour will take a boat trip and follow the river as it twists and turns through the impressive landscape, stopping at two caves called Ušak and Ledena (Ice). After the exciting boat trip, the tour will return to Zlatibor and visit Sirogojno, a village famous for its ethnological museum and ‘Sirogojno sweaters’ made of raw wool. You will see Ethnological exposition of the open-air museum known as the Old Village before heading back to Belgrade. Hotel check-in. Overnight.

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast and hotel check-out. As most of our clients decide to extend their trip within their own organisation, transfer to the airport at the end of the tour is not included in the overall price. Any guests who would like Balkan&more to organise a departure transfer on their behalf are welcome to contact us. End of services. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––*If you are departing from Belgrade a few days after the tour end, you can book additional nights with us, at the same hotel, for a surcharge of €45 (Standard package) or €85 (Superior package). Prices are per person, per night, in a double room.